Hybrids don't have to be so bad

As enthusiasts, most of us loathe hybrids. It’s easy to see why, most of them are about as exciting as a dishwasher, most of them have very questionable styling elements, and very few of them are legitimately cost effective. The truth is though, very little about their styling and (lack of) personality is because they’re hybrids, these cars would be ugly and boring regardless of power train type. Whether we like it or not, hybrids are the future. Hybrids are already showing up in super cars, it won’t be long before they trickle down to more mainstream performance cars like the Corvette and Mustang. It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom though, hybrids don’t have to be so bad.

Enter the parallel hybrids used by GM and Honda. Yes, these systems are less efficient than the series-parallel systems employed by Ford and Toyota, but they have one significant advantage that should appeal to enthusiasts, they feel like conventional cars. They can be run through a standard transmission with actual gears, Honda even runs their parallel hybrid through a conventional manual transmission. Since the ICE is always running, these hybrids feel like conventional cars. The system can easily be added to a sports car without killing the character of the car. Since the systems require less battery capacity, a set of lightweight Li-ion batteries could be used without making the car overly heavy. From an enthusiast standpoint, this really doesn’t sound so bad.

The next option would be using electric motors in place of mechanical AWD, this would be especially effective on FF, MR, and RR layout cars. Use electric motors to power the non-engine driven axle of the car. While motors and batteries have weight, the loss of extra mechanical drive components will offset much of that weight. Plus, ditching mechanical AWD would instantly make the drive train more efficient. The whole system can be programmed to run during acceleration to improve efficiency and traction. Once again, this doesn’t sound completely terrible either. I can even see the benefit of such a system.

Let’s just face it, every time you touch the brake pedal, you’re wasting energy. Hybrids recoup this energy. With CAFÉ getting stricter and gas prices increasing, performance cars either need to get more efficient or they’ll die off. If done correctly, a hybrid performance car doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

MT did an excellent piece on the 958, it's proof that hybrid and performance don't have to be mutually exclusive items.
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You can have an opinion, just be prepared to be relentlessly mocked for it.

Go hug a tree, hippie.
"There's a lie that all drivers tell themselves -- death is something that happens to other people. That's how you find the courage to get in the car in the first place. But more powerful than even the fear of death itself is the will to win."

Your two 5.7 V8s...WITH MDSHIPPIE
"There's a lie that all drivers tell themselves -- death is something that happens to other people. That's how you find the courage to get in the car in the first place. But more powerful than even the fear of death itself is the will to win."

A new generation of Hybrid performance cars is on the horizon, they will amaze. Prius has killed Hybrid perception in America.
_______________________________________________________________"there is nothing patriotic about hating your country, or pretending that you can love your country but despise your government."Bill Clinton, 5 may 1995

THE_atvman:As enthusiasts, most of us loathe hybrids. It’s easy to see why, most of them are about as exciting as a dishwasher, most of them have very questionable styling elements, and very few of them are legitimately cost effective. The truth is though, very little about their styling and (lack of) personality is because they’re hybrids, these cars would be ugly and boring regardless of power train type. Whether we like it or not, hybrids are the future. Hybrids are already showing up in super cars, it won’t be long before they trickle down to more mainstream performance cars like the Corvette and Mustang. It doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom though, hybrids don’t have to be so bad.

Enter the parallel hybrids used by GM and Honda. Yes, these systems are less efficient than the series-parallel systems employed by Ford and Toyota, but they have one significant advantage that should appeal to enthusiasts, they feel like conventional cars. They can be run through a standard transmission with actual gears, Honda even runs their parallel hybrid through a conventional manual transmission. Since the ICE is always running, these hybrids feel like conventional cars. The system can easily be added to a sports car without killing the character of the car. Since the systems require less battery capacity, a set of lightweight Li-ion batteries could be used without making the car overly heavy. From an enthusiast standpoint, this really doesn’t sound so bad.

The next option would be using electric motors in place of mechanical AWD, this would be especially effective on FF, MR, and RR layout cars. Use electric motors to power the non-engine driven axle of the car. While motors and batteries have weight, the loss of extra mechanical drive components will offset much of that weight. Plus, ditching mechanical AWD would instantly make the drive train more efficient. The whole system can be programmed to run during acceleration to improve efficiency and traction. Once again, this doesn’t sound completely terrible either. I can even see the benefit of such a system.

Let’s just face it, every time you touch the brake pedal, you’re wasting energy. Hybrids recoup this energy. With CAFÉ getting stricter and gas prices increasing, performance cars either need to get more efficient or they’ll die off. If done correctly, a hybrid performance car doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

MT did an excellent piece on the 958, it's proof that hybrid and performance don't have to be mutually exclusive items.

Zoomin:Its my current obsession, like a new song that I play out over and over over a two week course.

You guys are having to live with me and this current obsession with the Prius at the moment.

Zoomin-

I came close to buying a Prius once too. It's the inner dork in me that just liked the "techy-ness" of it!

You still are an enthusiast. Go drive a C-Max! You will be impressed. After driving one I just can't get that darn little hatch out of my brain. I loved it! I only drove it for about 15-20 miles, but got 45mpg with it. I like the Candy Blue color, but it's a bit "girlish".

I stand by it, you and I need to get matching C-Maxs!
--------------------In my Chrysler 300's defense this might be some new Uber-safe pre-collision system that I am not aware of. The airbag deployment is the result of the car KNOWING I will be struck in the front passenger door at SOME p

Zoomin:Its my current obsession, like a new song that I play out over and over over a two week course.

You guys are having to live with me and this current obsession with the Prius at the moment.

IowaCarGuy:Zoomin-

I came close to buying a Prius once too. It's the inner dork in me that just liked the "techy-ness" of it!

You still are an enthusiast. Go drive a C-Max! You will be impressed. After driving one I just can't get that darn little hatch out of my brain. I loved it! I only drove it for about 15-20 miles, but got 45mpg with it. I like the Candy Blue color, but it's a bit "girlish".

I stand by it, you and I need to get matching C-Maxs!

I know!!! The thing is the difference between 45mpg and 51.4 is pretty huge!

Zoomin:Its my current obsession, like a new song that I play out over and over over a two week course.

You guys are having to live with me and this current obsession with the Prius at the moment.

IowaCarGuy:Zoomin-

I came close to buying a Prius once too. It's the inner dork in me that just liked the "techy-ness" of it!

You still are an enthusiast. Go drive a C-Max! You will be impressed. After driving one I just can't get that darn little hatch out of my brain. I loved it! I only drove it for about 15-20 miles, but got 45mpg with it. I like the Candy Blue color, but it's a bit "girlish".

I stand by it, you and I need to get matching C-Maxs!

Zoomin:I know!!! The thing is the difference between 45mpg and 51.4 is pretty huge!

Seriously, at 12Kmi/yr and $4/gal, the difference between 45 and 51.4mpg is only about $130/yr.

I like the idea of a hybrid and am considering some, but not a Prius. A friend has had two and, while technically impressive, they are really pretty poor to ride in or drive. His 8 yr old son has rebelled and refuses to take rides over an hour since the back seat is so hard and uncomfortable.
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Zoomin:Its my current obsession, like a new song that I play out over and over over a two week course.

You guys are having to live with me and this current obsession with the Prius at the moment.

IowaCarGuy:Zoomin-

I came close to buying a Prius once too. It's the inner dork in me that just liked the "techy-ness" of it!

You still are an enthusiast. Go drive a C-Max! You will be impressed. After driving one I just can't get that darn little hatch out of my brain. I loved it! I only drove it for about 15-20 miles, but got 45mpg with it. I like the Candy Blue color, but it's a bit "girlish".

I stand by it, you and I need to get matching C-Maxs!

Zoomin:I know!!! The thing is the difference between 45mpg and 51.4 is pretty huge!

MEA17:Seriously, at 12Kmi/yr and $4/gal, the difference between 45 and 51.4mpg is only about $130/yr.

I like the idea of a hybrid and am considering some, but not a Prius. A friend has had two and, while technically impressive, they are really pretty poor to ride in or drive. His 8 yr old son has rebelled and refuses to take rides over an hour since the back seat is so hard and uncomfortable.

The (2) Prius rentals we had drove just fine and we put 450 miles in that one pictured above with zero comfort issues whatsoever.

If I was the dad of that 8 year old son, I would have bent him over the hood of that prius and beat his ass to the point that he would be wishing he was sitting in the back seat of a prius.